• BetterPhoto

Overview

BetterPhoto has a rating of 3.3 stars from 33 reviews, indicating that most customers are generally satisfied with their purchases. BetterPhoto ranks 2nd among Photography Education sites.

  • Shipping
    2
  • Returns
    2
  • Quality
    2

This company does not typically respond to reviews

Positive reviews (last 12 months): 0%
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What reviewers want you to know

Positive highlights

  • When I first bought my camera, I came across a beginner photography book by owner, Jim Miotke.

Critical highlights

No critical highlights yet

How would you rate BetterPhoto?
Top Positive Review

“BetterPhoto online courses are an exceptional value”

D B.
6/21/20

My first introduction to Jim Miotke was through his book, The BetterPhoto Guide to Digital Photography, many years ago. Since then, I have discovered his online website and, now, three of his courses. They are priced reasonably and a great way to improve my skills and get my creative juices going. I highly recommend Jim's BetterPhoto courses as a great way to learn more and do more.

Top Critical Review

“SPEND YOUR MONEY ELSEWHERE”

Liz M.
12/22/19

At one time this was a good site for hosting a photo website. No longer. I'm unable to update my bio photo and text. The text that I enter correctly shows up run together on my website. I don't dare try to edit my selection of photos. It's almost impossible to find contact information. They do respond to an email (always during the night, so I suppose they are half way around the world) and say they'll send the issue on to their tech team. They're just kidding, although not kidding when they want your money. Stay away.

Reviews (33)

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Reviews that mention popular keywords

jim miotke (6)
Thumbnail of user lizm430
1 review
3 helpful votes
December 22nd, 2019

At one time this was a good site for hosting a photo website. No longer. I'm unable to update my bio photo and text. The text that I enter correctly shows up run together on my website. I don't dare try to edit my selection of photos. It's almost impossible to find contact information. They do respond to an email (always during the night, so I suppose they are half way around the world) and say they'll send the issue on to their tech team. They're just kidding, although not kidding when they want your money. Stay away.

Thumbnail of user robertaw260
2 reviews
1 helpful vote
January 30th, 2023

For several reasons over the years ihave contacted them and it is really hard for o get a hold of them. Now I wish to cancel my account and get a refund but they will not answer me at all. Don't waste your money here..

Tip for consumers:
Don’t use them

Products used:
The deluxe site

Service
Value
Shipping
Returns
Quality
Thumbnail of user susane1707
1 review
0 helpful votes
October 19th, 2023

Ordered a Silver Subscription from BetterPhoto which included a website and Got Nothing. No website, no gallery - Nothing. Paid $169 and all I got was a headache. They did make promises but again didn't get anything. They did ask for more money for a classic gallery which is included in the price I paid - it says online that the Silver includes the Bronze plus more including an optional website that I paid for. It's been two weeks since I ordered and the promise online says two days. A second promise went unfulfilled as well. Buyer beware. I think this site was once very good and it has gone downhill and lots of people have left and have complained on other sites.

Products used:
None - I paid for a Silver subscription which a website and got nothing - no gallery, no website - nothing.

Service
Value
Thumbnail of user billp311
1 review
7 helpful votes
July 20th, 2019

I joined BetterPhoto to have a website to display my work, not interested in courses or contests. A few months ago he began to create an updated website and since that time it has been terrible, one problem after another. Unfortunately I have a lot of work posted on this website and it is going to be a major hassle to start a new website. Stay away from BetterPhoto for creating a website, there are many good alternatives. I am working with one of these alternatives and they are very helpful, it is just going to take me a long time to switch.

Thumbnail of user andyb213
1 review
4 helpful votes
June 22nd, 2019

After almost 4 weeks of having my web site off of the line, I have received an email that I am back on line. After checking the same I was far away from being back on line. They were lying to me and God knows how many other customers. Absolutely, absolutely Bad, Bad Bad Web Site Host. Stay Far Away From It.

Thumbnail of user jimm746
Jim M. – BetterPhoto Rep

I will be as honest and direct as I always am; some of the other unhappy reviewers make valid points. This one, on the other hand, is not based in truth. This customer would email us obsessively, with all caps swear words in the subject line. We tried many, many times to help him but he either did not get our emails or ignored them. There is a truth taught in many business courses that you have to serve your target client and "fire" those that either ignorantly or maliciously try to suck the energy out of you. This person clearly was not and I'm glad we "fired" him.

Thumbnail of user lindao162
1 review
4 helpful votes
June 9th, 2019

I have been a member for about 15 years and it is now a horrible experience. No way to contact anyone, no support - just dreadful. It is sad, I have so many images on this site and now have to figure how to get them off. Horrible

Thumbnail of user crystalb70
1 review
2 helpful votes
April 20th, 2017

WORSE SITE EVER! THEY took my credit card, the got my money. I received NOTHING! My Attoney is contacting the Attorney General's Office in Washington State. Also, the Federal Trade Commission also needs to be contacted. They have my money, I have NOTHING!

Thumbnail of user mb65
1 review
7 helpful votes
February 1st, 2014

Scam. After you pay there is nothing to gain.

All classes are for beginners. The guy that runs the site is not even a photographer.

There is NOTHING to gain. The "contests" are questionable and have no prizes like other sites. The "winners" often are photos that are out of focus, bad composition, look like graphic design computer generated images but not photos, cheesy rip off photos such as "an arm and hand stretched out holding a baby" (copied about a million times), yet some really really excellent photos but those photographers have not taken any Betterphoto classes. They came to the site as excellent photographers. I have spoken to many of them.

So many bird photos that you would think it is a bird web site not a photo site.

The people who run the site are useless and will not answer question, but they sure will try to sell you more things!

Pointless to join.

Stay away.

Join another site.

Thumbnail of user jerryr24
1 review
3 helpful votes
March 19th, 2014

The written materials for this course were very good and the instructor's critiques and responses to my questions were helpful (although I am still waiting two weeks later for the critique of my assignment submitted on March 4 and a response to a question).
However, as the only student in the course I clearly did not get close to my money's worth. Among the benefits of the courses Better Photo promotes are receiving input from other students on your work, observing and commenting on their work, seeing their questions, and seeing the instructor's critiques of their work and responses to their questions. I received none of these benefits. I could have received the benefit I got from the course buy purchasing a good book for a small fraction of the $200 cost.
In short, I feel short-changed. I believe I should have been advised that I would be the only student and offered some other options.

Thumbnail of user karenw19
1 review
9 helpful votes
February 15th, 2013

Their customer service is non-existent. This USED to be a good site, but the guy Jim Miotke who started it has gotten too big for his britches it seems. I was a member for years and had one of their deluxe websites. I wrote countless emails to them with a question and have NEVER been answered, although my inbox gets filled with emails from them every single day, boasting about how their courses are getting filled up, etc. It's too bad because at the beginning this was a valuable learning resource. This site and its developer/owner are a perfect example of how moderate success can ruin things for their customers. All they seem interested in now are the courses they offer, which are questionable in value, since many of the things are on YouTube for free! Don't get hoodwinked by this site.

Thumbnail of user karlao1
1 review
5 helpful votes
September 3rd, 2011

Lousy customer service, classes very limited as to breadth and scope.

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From the business

BetterPhoto helps photographers share photos with an easy-to-use system that's both affordable and powerful. It's photography joy and inspiration through a great member community. BetterPhoto's Web site hosting services for photographers is easy-to-use and highly customizable. Our monthly photo contests are the most fun, objective, and prestigious photography contests on the Web.

Company Representative

Thumbnail of user jimm746
Jim M.
President
Typically does not respond to reviews
My wife and I have been running BetterPhoto since we started it in 1996! Denise and I are both photographers, and our three children and three dogs, along with nature and travel destinations, are our among our favorite subjects. But our biggest interest is in helping you experiences the joy of creative photography and become an even better photographer in the process.

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